Flange frog



Aug. M L12 R. E. EINSTEIN FLANGE FROG Filed 001;. l2 1923 R. E. EINSTEIN FLANGE FROG Filed Oct. l2, 1923 2 Smwtw-Shmw, 2

Zd/v 1/5 N TOR HTTOENE v5 vat Patented Aug.. l2, W24.

AND RAILWAY IMPROVEMENT COMPANY, F ST. LO'UIS, MISSURI, A CORJPOEIL TION 0F FLORIDA.

FLANGE FROG.

Application filed October 12, 1923. Serial No. 668,122.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I,R0BERT E. Ei'Ns'rEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new a-nd useful Improvement in Flange Frogs, of which the following is a full,

clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in they art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

rlhis invention relates to railway frogs of the type known commercially as flange frogs, and particularly flange frogs of the kind in which the guard members consist of removable elements that are detachably connected to the main body of the frog.

One object of my present invention is to provide a flange frog of the general type mentioned, which is of such construction that the guard members can be easily combined with the main body of the frog, either in the operation ofmanufacturing the com plete frog, or when the main body of the frog is installed in a track.

Another object is to provide a flange frog of the type referred to in which the guard members are supported by the track ties and are equipped with portions on which the main body of the frog rests.

Another object is to provide a flange frog of the kind just referred to in which the guard members are combined with the main body of the frog in such a way that the strains to which the guard members are sub- 'jected when 'wheels travel over the frog tend to counteract the downward pressure eX erted on the main body of the frog by sai wheels.

And still another object is to provide a multiple part frog whose elements are combined in such a wav that the frog can be kept rigid and solid with minimum trouble and expense. Other vobjects and desirable features of my invention will be hereinafter A pointed out. t5 Figure 1 of the drawings/1s a top plan view of a flange ,frog constructed in accordance with my invention. frFigure 2 is a side elevational view of said og. p

Figure 3 is a transverse'sectional view, taken on the line. 3-3 of Figure 1- Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the line 4:-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 5f5 of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 6 6 of Figure l', looking to the right or towards the point of the frog.

Referring to the drawings which illus trate the preferred form of my invention, A designates the point of the frog, B designates the running surfaces on which the treads of the wheels travel in passing over vthe frog, and C designates guard members that arerused to guide the flange of a passing wheel past the point of thefrog by engaging the tread rim of the wheel in a horizontal plane above the running surfaces of the frog. The body portionof the frog comprising the point A and the running surfaces B, may consist of a cast structure, or it-may consist of a built up structure formed from conventional T rails. In the form of my invention herein illustrated the point A is formed by two 'l' rails, the running surfaces B are formed by two wing rails, and the guard members C consist of castings constructed of steel or some suitable steel alloy. Said guard members are arranged at opposite sides of the wing rails that constitute the running surfaces B of the frog, and each of said guard members is provided with a wheel tread surface l that lies in the same horizontal plane as the adjacent running surface B of the frog, and an upwardly-projecting wheel rim engaging portion 2 that extends longitudinally of they frog so that it will co-operate with the rim of a passing wheel to guide the flange of the wheel properly past the point A of the frog.

Instead ofI mounting the guard members C on the main body portion of the frog or on a supporting plate on which the main body portion of the frog rests, as has heretofore been the usual practice, I construct the guard members C in such a way that they will bear directly on the track ties, and the main body portion of the frog will rest or bear upon portions on said guard members. Any suitable means can be used for connecting the main body of the frog with the guard members C, but Iv prefer to construct the guard membersin such a way that they can be drawn into snug' eng ment with the main body portion of frog by one or more vrede-'shaped devices inserted between co-operai-ng portions on said guard members and main body and thensecurely clamp said elements to" ether by bolts or other suitable fastening evicea ttt i that are arranged transversely of the structure.

This method of connecting the co-operating parts of the frog together makes it possible to maintain the frog in a rigid and solid condition with minimum trouble and expense and it greatly simplifies the operation of connecting the parts of the frog together during the process of manufacturing the frog, r when it becomes necessary to renew any part of the frog after it has been installed in the track. Each of the guard members C is provided with a tie engaging portion or base portion 3 that rests upon the ties of the track and which is used to support the main body of the frog. The particular shape and dimensionsl of said base portion 3 are immaterial, but in 4most .instances it will consist of a horizontally-disposed web that isoprovided with laterallyprojecting extensions 3a arranged in alignment with the track ties, so as to provide a bearing surface of Sufficient area to firmly support the guard members C and the main body portion of the frog which said guard members carry. The laterally-projecting extensions 3a at the outer sides of the guard member C are provided with holes 3b through which spikes can be inserted so as to securely connect the guard members to the track ties, and the extensions 3 at the inner sides of the guard members terminate at a point near the center line or longitudinal axis of the frog. While various means may be used to connect the guard members C to the main body portion of the frog Without` departing from the spirit of my invention, I prefer to provide the base portions or tie engaging portions 3 of the gua-rd members C with devices thatare adapted to co-operate With wedge-shaped filler blocks E and F interposed between the wing rails B to draw said guard members into snug engagement with the wing rails. As shownfin Figure 3, the laterally-projecting extensions 3a of the base portions 3 of the guard members that are located in advance of the point of the frog are provided with upwardly-projecting 4ribs 4 that haveinclined faces, indicated by the reference character 4a in Figure 4, which extend at an angle to the center line or longitudinal axis of the frog. The filler block E that 1s arranged between the wing rails B at th 1 part of the frog is Wedge-shaped in general outline and is provided on its unders1de with a Wedge-shaped groove 40 that recelves said ribs 4, said groove 40 being tapered oppositely to the bevel of the filler block. Accordingly, when the filler block E 1s moved longitudinally of the frog towards the frog point A, the Side ^faces of said block will exert pressure on the wing rails'in a direction to move them outwardly or laterally against the guard members C, and the slde VWalls of the groove 40 in the underside of said filler block that receives the ribs 4 on the base portions 3 of the guard members will exert pressure on the guard members in a direction tending todraw them inwardly into snug engagement with the wing rails. After the filler block E has been driven in a direction to dravvthe guard members into snug engagement with the wing rails, said parts are clamped together by bolts 5 arranged transversely of same, as shown in Figure 3, the side portions of the filler block having elongated holes designated by the reference character 5a in Figure 4, so as to provide for the longitudinal movement of said filler block with relation to the Wing rails. The filler block F that is arranged at the throat of the frog is also wedge-shaped and provided on its underside with a wedgeshaped vroove that receives inclined or angularlyisposed, upwardly-projecting ribs 4 on the base portions 3 of the guard members, the guard members, wing rails and liller block F being securely clamped together by through bolts 6 that are arranged transversely of said elements. The wing' rails are held in spaced relation with the point A of the frog by means of the filler blocks G arranged between the web of the frog point and the wing rails and clamped to said elements by through bolts 7 that also pass through the guard members C.

A flange frog of the above construction is easy to assemble in the operation of manufacturing the frog and the guard members or main body portion of the frog can be removed easily for replacement vor repair after the frog has been installed in a track.

Owing to the fact that the frog comprises wedge-shaped elements, which, when driven in one direction, cause the guard members to be drawn into snug engagement with the main bodyl part of thefrog, it is a comparatively simple matter to keep the frog perfectly solid and rigid, thereby materially reducing the cost of maintenance of flange frogs of the kind, in which the guard members consist of elements separate and distinct from the main body portion of the frog. The base portions of the gua-rd members C provide a firm and rigid support or bearing for the frog on the ties of the track, and as the main body portion of the frog comprising the point and the running surfacesare carried by base portions of the guard members that are arranged near the center line of the frog, thelateral strains exerted on the rim engaging portions 2 of the guard members C by wheels passing over the frog tend to counteract the downward loads exerted on the running surfaces by said wheels.

Having thus described my invention, what I claimv as new? and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A flange frog, comprising a main body portion composed of a point and running recesso surfaces, and guard 'members formed by elements separate and distinct from the main body of the frog and arranged so as to support said main body portion.

2. A flange frog, comprising separate guard members adapted to be connected to the ties of the track, and a main body portion comprising a point and running surfaces carried by and detachably connected to said guard members.

3. A flange frog provided with a point, a running surface, a guard member detachably combined With said elements and provided with a wheel rim engaging portion arranged in a higher horizontal plane than said running surface, and means on said guard member that supports and carries said point and runnin surface.

A. A ange frog, ,comprising a main body portion composed 'of a point and running surfaces, separate guard .members having supporting portions on which the main body portion of the frog is removably mounted and wheel rim engaging portions on said guard members arranged in a'higher horizontal plane than the running surfaces of the frog.y

5. A Hange frog having a main body portion comprising a point and running sur faces, guard members that support said main body portion, and wedge-shaped devices for drawing lsaid guard members into snug engagement with said main body portion.

6. A flange .frog having a main body portion comprising apoint and running surfaces, and guard member?,` arranged at opposite sides of said main body portion and provided with tie-engaging portions that extend under said main body portion so as to form a support on which said body portion is removably mounted.

7. A flange frog having a main body portion comprising a point and running surfaces, guard members arranged at opposite sides of said main body portion and provided with tie-engaging portions that extend under said main body portion and support the same, and a wedge-shaped device adapted to co-operate with said elements to draw them 1nto snug engagement with each other;

8. A Harige frog, comprising a point, wing rails, guard members provided with portions on which said wing rails rest, and a wedge-shaped device interposed between said wing rails and adapted to co-operate with parts on the wing rail supporting portions of said guard members for drawing the guard members into snug engagement with the wing rails.

9. A flange frog composed of a main body portion that comprises a point and running surfaces, guard members arranged at opposite sides of said main body portion, an

adjustable means for drawing said guard members into snug engagement with said main body portion, and means for securely clamping said elements together.

10. A flange frog composed of a main body portion comprising a point and running surfaces, guard members arranged at opposite sides 0f said body portion and formed by elements separate and distinct from said bod portion, and tie-engaging portions exten ing laterally in opposite directions from each of said guard members that form a support on which the main body portion of the frog is removably mounted and also provide a substantial bearing surface for said guard members on the track ties.

11. lln a flange frog, a part that constitutes a running surface for a Wheel passing over a frog, a guard member arranged at one side of said part and provided with a wheel r1m engaging portion arranged in a higher horizontal plane than said running surface, an integral base portion on said guard .member on which said part is su ported, and an adjustable device for drawing said guard member into snug engagement with said part.

12. lln a Harige frog, a part that constitutes a running surface for a wheel passing over 'the frog, a guard member arranged at one side of said part and provided with a. wheel rim engaging portion Aarranged in a higher horizontal plane than said-running surface, a base portion on said guard member on which said part is supported, and a wedge-shaped device interposed between said part and a rib on said base portion for drawing said guard member into snug engagement with said part.

13. A dange frog, comprising parts that constitute running surfaces for wheels which travel .over the frog, guard members arranged at opposite sides of said parts, base portions on said guard members on which said parts rest, a wedge-shaped filler block interposed between sald parts, and co-o erating means on said ller block and on t e base portions of said guard members for drawing said guard members into snug enagement with said parts when said filler lgilock is moved longitudinally in one direction.

14. In a flange frog, parts that constitute running surfaces of the frog, guard members arranged at opposite sides of said parts and provided with wheel rim engaging portions arranged in a higher horizontal plane than the running surfaces of the frog, base portions on said guard members on which said parts rest, a wedge-shaped filler block interposed between said parts and provided on its underside with a tapered groove, and ribs on said base portions that enter said groove, for the purpose described..

l t lli 15. A flange frog, comprising a point, wing rails, guard members at opposite sides ofthe Wing rails provided With base portions that Support the wing rails and the point of the frog, filler blocks interposed between the wing rails, and (Jo-operating means on said fllerblooks and on the base portions of the guar-d members for dravving the! guard members into snug engagement with the Wing lrails.

1.6. A flange frog, comprising Aa point,

Wing rails, guard members at opposite sides of the wing rails provided with Wheel rim engaging portions arranged in a higher horizontal plane than the top sides of said Wing rails, base portions on said guard members on which the Wing rails and frog point are supported, Wedge-shaped filler blocks interposed between the wing rails and provided on their undersides with tapered grooves, and

ribs on the base portions of the guard members that project into saidgrooves, for the purpose described.

17. A flange frog having a main body portion comprising a. point and parts that constitute the running surfaces of the frog, guard members arranged at opposite sides of said main body portion and provided with Wheel rim engaging portions arranged in a higher horizontal plane than the running surfaees of the frog, base portions on said guard members o n which the body portion of the frog is supported, means adapted to be adjusted longitudinally of the frog for exerting a Wedging action on the guard members so as to dranT them into snug engagement with the main body portion of the frog, and means for clamping the guard members tol said main body portion.

ROBERT E. EINSTEIN. 

